Low burden integrated chemical protective hood for use with helmets

Abstract

A chemical protective hood designed to be worn over a respirator in a manner such that it is located between a helmet and the respirator. The hood has a skirt portion of filter barrier material containing an opening with edges configured to surround and fit against a respirator's facepiece. A top portion of the hood is formed of a thin single layer that fits under the helmet and is configured to match the curved inner surface of the helmet. The thin single layer allows the helmet to be comfortably donned without requiring any modification to be made to the helmet.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is contained is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A chemical protective hood to be worn over a respirator in a manner such that it is located between a helmet and the respirator, the hood comprising a multi-layered skirt portion of filter barrier material containing an opening with edges configured to surround and fit against a respirator's facepiece, a top portion of the hood being formed of a thin single layer that fits under a helmet, the thin single layer being configured to match the curved inner surface of the helmet.  
     
     
         2 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the thin single layer is a mesh layer.  
     
     
         3 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the thin single layer is a polyester mesh layer.  
     
     
         4 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of an activated carbon impregnated material.  
     
     
         5 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of a woven material.  
     
     
         6 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the thin single layer is a knit material.  
     
     
         7 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of a carbon impregnated lycra.  
     
     
         8 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the thin single layer and one layer in the skirt portion are formed of the same material.  
     
     
         9 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 7 , wherein one layer in the skirt portion is formed of carbon impregnated lycra.  
     
     
         10 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layered skirt portion comprises an inner charcoal-impregnated fabric layer and an outer liquid-repellent and flame-retardant fabric layer.  
     
     
         11 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the thin single layer is a mesh layer.  
     
     
         12 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the thin single layer is a polyester mesh layer.  
     
     
         13 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of a carbon impregnated filter material.  
     
     
         14 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of carbon impregnated lycra.  
     
     
         15 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of a woven material.  
     
     
         16 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the thin single layer is formed of a knit material.  
     
     
         17 . A chemical protective hood to be worn over a respirator in a manner such that it is located between a helmet and the respirator, the hood comprising a skirt portion of filter barrier material containing an opening with edges configured to surround and fit against a respirator's faceplate, a top portion of the hood being formed of a thinner single layer that fits under a helmet, the thin single layer being configured to match the curved inner surface of the helmet.  
     
     
         18 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 17 , where the thin single layer and one layer of the skirt portion are formed of the same material.  
     
     
         19 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 17 , where the thin single layer is formed of a carbon impregnated filter material.  
     
     
         20 . A chemical protective hood as defined in  claim 17 , where the thin single layer is a polyester mesh layer.